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“Oh, I like the way you think.” Brooks nods. “Maybe draw straws,” he suggests with a wicked grin.
“I vote for pulling names out of a hat,” Ryder chimes in. “Mom, do you still have the old hat we used to use?” he asks Carol, their mom.
“The choice is obvious,” Maverick says. He glances over at his twin, who grins as they have some sort of silent conversation.
“Two for one.” Merrick winks at me.
“Stop!” Orrin yells.
“Now you’ve done it. Blake, why don’t you come with me. We need to check on Papaw and the grill,” Declan tells his daughter.
“I’m a good checker.” She takes Declan’s hand, and they step out of the room.
“Is that your vein popping?” Deacon asks with a chuckle.
“Hush.” Ramsey smacks at his chest. “Jade, I’m sorry for these idiots.”
“It’s fine,” I tell her, trying to hide my laugh because Orrin really does look like he’s ready to explode.
“Rushton,” Orrin growls. “Get your hands off my girlfriend. Now.”
“Did you say girlfriend?” another male voice asks. We all turn to see Raymond, their dad, standing with an aluminum pan full of grilled burgers.
“Yep.” Orrin is now grinning.
“Boys, leave your sister alone,” Raymond tells them. “Don’t rile him up. One day it’s going to be you, and girlfriend or wife be damned, he will find a way to pay you back.”
I am about swallow my tongue when he says wife, but I don’t have time to finish the task because Orrin grabs my arm, pulling me into his chest. He wraps his arms around me protectively, and I melt into him. I feel his lips press to the top of my head, and normally I’d blush, but after that initiation, I’m just happy to be in his arms and to know he’s no longer on the verge of a stroke.
“Dad, you’re always taking away our fun,” Maverick grumbles.
Raymond fights a grin. “You two”—he points to the twins—“I’m watching you.”
“What?” Merrick scoffs. “Why are we always the ones that get blamed?”
“Double trouble,” the entire room mutters, and then they all crack up laughing.
“Come and get it!” Carol calls out from what I’m assuming is the kitchen.
Everyone filters out of the room, except for Orrin and me. “I’m sorry,” he says as soon as it’s just us.
Tilting my head back, I smile up at him. “Why are you apologizing?”
“They mean well, but they love to rile me up,” he grumbles.
“Orrin, it’s fine. They’re your brothers. They do it because they love you. I’m fine. It actually helped to calm my nerves.”
He studies me, looking for what I’m not sure, but when he sighs, letting his guard down, I know he’s accepted my words as truth. “I love you.” He leans down and kisses me.
“Daddy!” Blakely yells. “Uncle Orrin is giving Jade cooties.” The little tattletale giggles and rushes back into the kitchen.
“I wonder which one of my brothers sent her out here?” Orrin asks.
“It doesn’t matter. She’s adorable, and we came here to eat with your family. We should probably do that.” I start to pull away, but something his dad said stops me. “Orrin, your dad referred to me as your brothers’ sister. Did I hear that right?”
This time his smile is huge and lights up his entire face. “You heard him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“They know I would have never brought you here unless I was in love with you. That’s his way of welcoming you to the family.”
“Wow. This is all happening fast.” I try to process his words. Orrin- this day is more than I ever could have hoped for. To have the blessing of not only his brothers, but his parents has me falling a little in love with all of them too.
“We can slow down, just don’t pull away,” he says, suddenly serious.
“I don’t want to slow down.” I go up on my toes and kiss him softly. “We could go a little faster,” I tell him.
His eyes widen, and his hands tighten on my waist. “We’re leaving,” he says. His voice is suddenly deep and husky.
“No.” I laugh. “We are having dinner with your family. We can go faster when we get home.”
“Home.” He nods and kisses me. “One of these days, the meaning of that word is going to mean the same for both of us.”
“You’re already my home, Orrin.”
“Let me rephrase that. One of these days, our addresses are going to match.”
Somehow, I manage to contain the giddiness that bubbles inside of me at with his confession. “Come on, boyfriend, let’s eat.” I step away, but he grabs my hand, and we enter the kitchen together as a united front. I catch Ramsey’s eye as she makes her plate, and she grins and nods.
Everyone else acts as though I’ve been here a million times as Orrin’s girlfriend. We all make our plates and everyone spreads out around the open area finding a seat. They have a huge kitchen table, but not enough room for all of us. The house is an open concept, so it doesn’t matter if you sit at the table in the living room or on the island. It still feels as though everyone is eating together.
